Ja'Marr Chase Rumors: Bengals Contract Offer Was 'Very Close' to Jefferson, Lamb

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase didn't get the contract extension he was holding out for throughout the offseason, but the team reportedly attempted to make him one of the highest-paid wideouts in the league.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained that while Chase and the Bengals "came close to reaching a deal" before Week 1 of the 2024 season, the team's offer didn't fulfill his desire to reset the market.

"People I spoke to around the league expected the Bengals to pay him somewhere very close to the top of the receiver market, possibly somewhere between CeeDee Lamb ($34 million per year) and Justin Jefferson ($35 million)," Fowler stated. "If that's the case, it sounds like the proposal wasn't enough -- especially based on the way Chase addressed the media Friday, with conviction that he could shatter Jefferson's deal."

While speaking to reporters last week, Chase scoffed at the notion that all it took to reach a deal was one cent more than Jefferson's deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

"If I want to beat Justin, I'm gonna beat the s--t out of Justin," Chase said at the time. "Not by a penny, brother."

After not practicing during training camp or participating in any preseason games, Chase managed to suit up for Cincinnati's season opener against the New England Patriots and led the team with six catches and 62 yards in a 16-10 loss.

The three-time Pro Bowler is still under contract for the 2025 season after the Bengals exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, so the team can wait until next offseason to re-enter negotiations with him.

Chase will look to deliver a better performance when the Bengals visit the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.